Really, a couple of these boil down to what I’ve said for a week now:
MESSAGING AND MARKETING
We need candidates who are sincere about themselves. I’m convinced John Tester and Joe Manchin survive because, regardless of their policies, they connect with their constituents. I’m guessing they perform all sorts of LOCAL favors, know half their voters by name, visit cattle ranches and coal mines, and schmooze endlessly either “caring” about people or APPEARING to care (as Bill Clinton used to).
Cruz survived only on his conservatism in a conservative state, but he is not likeable, does not connect with people, and is a total policy wonk. Abbott? He ran 10 points better because he is real. He is genuine. Pretty much the same for Ducey vs. McSally.
I’ve had lots of conversations with people who couldn’t tell you WHO McSally was. I don’t mean a resume. I mean, who she really was. “Old Joe, yeah, I know him. DOn’t agree with his policies, but I know him.” (Even when they don’t).
The GOP got into a box-checking game. John James (black military guy), Lea Marquez Peterson (Hispanic businessowman), McSally, Mia Love (Who may survive but is total cardboard).
I’m told-—just hearsay from a Michigan Tea Party activist-—that James was 100% scripted, rehearsed, canned. That one on one he treated you like you were only valuable if it advanced his campaign. Could be sour grapes, I don’t know. But we cannot afford any more canned, scripted GOP campaigns.
They must be sincere, authentic. People are not buying policies or issues nearly as much as they are buying people. Whatever you say about that goofball Cortez, she lets it hang out. She is who she is-—a crazy Marxist who is ignorant.
Many of our “box checkers” were beaten by white women, including McSally, Marquez Peterson, James. Exit polls show we are doing BETTER with blacks and Hispanics in many races, and own the immigration issue. But this becomes a messaging problem and I’ve discussed that before.
The GOP got into a box-checking game. John James (black military guy)
He was not a “box check”, dude.
He just didnt have the budget to run ads 24/7.
And hearing from people who have met him in the Oval Office (Scott Adams, Michael Savage) he makes the people he talks to feel very important.
P.S. Enjoying your tweats, LS. Don't know how you can keep up to the daily grind of producing them, but much appreciate the great commentary.
Larry Schweikart (@LarrySchweikart) | Twitter
I'd also like to second your endorsement of the brilliant essay, Biological Leninism.
I couldn’t agree more with this analysis.
I could sense James was scripted even through the TV set.